2020 was Tough. But the Filipino was Tougher.

February 24, 2025
Some years were awesome. But some years were a nightmare. 2020 was one of the worst years of the entire world and everyone knows this. This will ring true for decades to come and will be remembered for generations to come – “The year when the world stopped”, so to speak.

In the Philippines, we had our fair share of "extra rice" when it came to talking about natural disasters we had to deal with. We had a volcano eruption in Tagaytay in January which covered thousands of square kilometers in ash. It was quickly followed by the swine fever outbreak in Davao in February which decimated an industry and killed thousands of pigs. And then of course, there was the Covid 19 pandemic which started a complete national lockdown in March and we all know how that went. In the midst of the pandemic, in August in Masbate, an earthquake hit killing hundreds & causing millions in damages. As the rainy season went full swing, among many "normal" typhoons we got, came Rolly and Ulysses in Oct and Nov respectively, causing record breaking floods, damages and community displacements.

But despite all these, you didn't see many Filipinos crying or feeling sorry for themselves in a corner. Contrary to that, you actually saw more Filipino resilience thru Pinoys who converted their jobs or businesses to home delivery, online selling or neighborhood small businesses – initially to survive but many, to this day – now thrive.

Not only that, many employers such as Wheeltek Motor Sales took great efforts during the ECQ to maintain their employees, continue providing adjusted salaries and even provided rice, alcohol and vitamins in order to sustain them through those workless times.

With so many catastrophes that happened this year, many “heroes” arose. Those who were in trouble themselves but looked at others and said, “Let us help others far worse than we”. These are the people who stepped out during storms, travelled during ECQ, traversed flooded and debris strewn streets, risked health and Covid exposure, and spent their time not making money for themselves, or sleeping in bed or watching tv at home; but instead they were out delivering food, water, medicine and basic supplies to those who lost their homes, who were quarantined, who got sick and could not work, and those who had nothing left.

We at Wheeltek salute and thank all of these people who not only patronized us through purchases and friendships but also stood with us, worked with us, gave with us and took risks with us as we helped others devastated by floods, earthquakes, outbreaks and pandemics. Thank you for being our heroes. Thank you for being our partners in getting through 2020 and helping others do the same.

2020 taught us to be stronger, wiser and tougher. 2021 is a brand new year where nothing is impossible through God. As long as we are together and work together, we will make next year better than this year – “The year we pick ourselves up”, so to speak.

Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New 2021 to all. God be with you.